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Land purchase means new park Vacant acres to be transformed By SUSAN JAY CENTRAL POINT -- The city plans to purchase nine vacant acres on the east side of Interstate 5 for a new park. Once developed, it would be the largest of the city's eight parks, with a baseball diamond, a small soccer field and a playground, said Tom Humphrey, planning director. That's good news, considering that 684 homes are projected to be built in the area north of East Pine Street extending beyond Vilas Road over the next several years. The nine acres cover two parcels, which are adjacent and lie next to and east of the Central Point cemetery off of Vilas Road. They need to be annexed into the city. Jim Bennett, city administrator, said he just closed escrow on one parcel and expects to close escrow on the other in July. He said the total price is $445,000. The money comes from the system development fees the city charges new development for parks. That cost runs an estimated $400 to $500 per home, Humphrey said. A long-time resident, Muriel Sesock, owned the largest section at 5.8 acres. The developers of Central Point East, the 239-lot subdivision off of East Pine Street and Hamrick Road, owned the smaller 3.3-acre lot. Humphrey said the city had already planned to buy the smaller lot for a park and was looking for a way to expand it. He said he learned by surprise that Sesock was interested in selling the property when a real estate agent asked what could be developed on the property. Humphrey wrote to Sesock, asking her to consider an offer from the city if the sale she was working on didn't go through. It didn't, and her agent began working with the city. The new park will gradually be developed over the next few years, Humphrey said. The city's first priority is finishing a 2-acre park in Beall Estates, just north of Beall Lane. This park would be accessible to residents living in the subdivisions of Forest Glenn Drive and Hampton Drive. The city is building a wall and pathway to the park connecting those areas by foot. The housing developments in the area of the new 9-acre park include Central Point East, with a proposed 239 homes; New Haven Estates, with a proposed 200 homes; and Walnut Grove manufactured home park, with 200 spaces. Another small development has plans for 45 pad-lot homes. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA